Leading trade bodies of the provincial capital under the aegis of All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran (APAT) has warned the federal and provincial governments to announce fixed taxation policy for retailers otherwise a complete shutter-down strike will be observed on August 15-17.
"In the first phase, all the traders will go on for a complete shutter-down strike on August 15 and 16 while in the second phase the strike will be observed for another two days on August 26 and 27 across the country for redressal of our demands," declared APAT General Secretary Naeem Mir during a press conference at the Lahore Press Club here on Wednesday.
Senior leaders of different leading markets, including Ashraf Bhatti, Amjad Ch, Waqar Ahmed Mian, Haji Hanif, Malik Amanat, Sohail Mehmood Butt Imran Bashir, Sheikh Irfan Iqbal, Mian Tahir Subhani, Malik Farooq Hafiz, Agha Zulfiqar, Syed Azmat Shah and Malik Kaleem were also present in the conference.
Mir claimed that the decision was taken in consultation with the leaders of all trade bodies in Lahore. "This is a joint press conference of all factions of APAT including Ashraf Bhatti Group, Qaumi Tajir Ittehad, Lahore Businessmen Front of LCCI, All Pakistan Truck Trawler Owners Association, Jewelers Association, Auto Dealers Association, Progressive Group and all other trade bodies of the city," he added.
"This is the unanimous decision of all trade bodies of the country who have decided to keep their shops shut, closing all markets from Karachi to Peshawar for four days in the month of August 2019 as our demands have not been accepted so far," he continued.
He said the government should announce a fixed taxation scheme for retailers only with their consultations. Our protest will continue till the announcement and implementation of the fixed tax system, he added.
According to the general secretary, the government is not serious about resolving the issues of traders as it hasn't accepted a single demand of those businessmen who had not participated in the previous strike. The way the government treating traders is very unfortunate and cruel, he expressed.
"When the traders observed the strike earlier this month, the government had assured us of announcing a fixed tax scheme, but it could not be declared despite the passing of three weeks," he lamented and added that the authorities are also trying to confuse traders on the ID card issue. He also accused the government officials of engaging fake trade bodies in talks.
"We are on the verge of economic collapse and the government's wrong taxation measures are worsening the situation. The government is trying to divide us instead of resolving our issues," he said, adding that the Federal Board of Revenue was not ready to listen to them due to which the trading community is worried and the people are facing huge inflation.
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